A senior transport official in New South Wales has been dragged before the courts, accused of operating a sophisticated cash-for-contracts scheme that allegedly funnelled thousands of dollars in bribes through a popular Portuguese restaurant.
The Alleged Corruption Network
Court documents reveal that Craig O'Sullivan, a 49-year-old bureaucrat from Sydney's inner west, stands accused of receiving substantial cash payments from the owner of O Porto Portuguese restaurant in Five Dock. In return, O'Sullivan allegedly used his position to steer lucrative Transport for NSW contracts toward the restaurateur's business interests.
The elaborate arrangement allegedly involved the creation of fake invoices worth approximately $120,000, with prosecutors claiming these documents were used to conceal the illicit payments disguised as legitimate business transactions.
Court Proceedings and Charges
O'Sullivan appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday facing three counts of receiving a corrupt benefit. The prosecution alleges the senior public servant accepted three separate cash payments totalling $30,000 between March and July 2023.
Meanwhile, restaurant owner Tony Khoury, 58, faces charges of giving a corrupt benefit to a public official. Both men have yet to enter formal pleas, with the case adjourned until November for further investigation.
Investigation and Fallout
The scandal emerged following an extensive investigation by Transport for NSW, which uncovered suspicious financial activities. The department promptly suspended O'Sullivan and referred the matter to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
A Transport for NSW spokesperson confirmed the department is "cooperating fully with authorities" and emphasised their "zero tolerance for corrupt conduct." The case has sent shockwaves through the state's public service, raising questions about procurement oversight and contract approval processes.
The matter returns to court on November 6, where both defendants are expected to face further scrutiny over the alleged corruption network that operated beneath the surface of Sydney's transport bureaucracy.
